Combined panel and beam for computing-scales.



'No. 729,607., I I ,PATENTED JUNE 2, 190's.

M. P. KNOX. COMBINED PANEL AND BEA-M FOR COMPUTING SCALES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. 1902.

NO MODEL. 7 2 SHEBTSSHEBT 1.4

G l u l PATENTED JUNE-2, 1903..-

M. F. KNOX. I COMBINED PANEL AND BEAM FOR COMPUTING SCALES.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 19, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

N0 MODEL.

THE NORRXS PETERS ccvv PNOTQ-LITHO., wnsnwm'ou. n. c,

UNITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHIAS F. KNOX, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,607, dated June 2,1903.

Application filed July 19,1902. Serial No. 116,253. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MATTHIAS F. KNOX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Paneland Beam for Computing-Scales; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable oth ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to an improvement in a beam for computing orprice scales, and it is embodied in the construction and arrangement ofparts presently to be described, and defined in the claims.

Heretofore it has been suggested to employ a panel for computing-scalesin the form of a rotary member having four or more sides on which thecomputations are placed and associated therewith a single sliding poise.The advantages of the single rotary form is in its wide range ofcomputations. It has also been suggested heretofore to use a flat paneldivided into two sections, each of which is providedwith a slidingcomputing-poise.

In both of the structures above referred to an additional or tare beamhas been found necessary and detachable weights had also to be employedwhen large amounts were to be weighed.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined beam and panel whichwill possess the advantages of the many-sided rotary type of panel inthat it will have a large surface area for computations or figures, toprovide a panel of peculiar construction well adapted for commercial useand economic manufacture, and to provide a panel which will avoid thenecessity of the use of a tare-beam and the use of detachable weights.

A further object of the invention will presently be stated; but ingeneral the design of the invention is a structure which will have alarge computing capacity, a capacity for weighing and computing heavyweights at small prices and small weights at high prices, doing awaythereby with loose weights and frequent additions by those operating thescale, thus largely avoiding the danger of error and complications.

In the accompanying drawings is shown an embodiment of the invention;but it is to be understood that various changes can be made withoutdeparting from the nature and principle of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combined beam and panel, showingportions of the standard. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through thepanel and a portion of the frame. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views ofa poise.

A designates the standard of any convenient form of scale, and Bdesignates the shelf or frame, having in the present instance twoprotecting-uprights B and B the latter having a vertical slot therein,as shown in dotted line, Fig 1. On the shelf B is a fulcrum-pillar 0,having a bearing in its upper end.

D designates the connecting-link for the scale-beam.

The panel consists conveniently of a single plate of metal or othersuitable material, which is divided into four or more parts 1, 2, 3, and4, the forward edge of the panel being continuous, while the rear edgeis broken by the separating-slots 02, extending longitudinally acrossthe panel. These slots are conveniently three in number and are ofsufficient width to permit the'movement of the upper portion of a poisetherein, as will presently be described. To secure the free ends of theplate in their proper positions against deflection or bending and toconstitute a support for the panel, an angular rigid metallic frame E isemployed, the upright portion e of which and the horizontal portion eembrace, respectively, the ends of the panels '1 and 2 and the loweredge of the rear portion of panel 2,.while the upright portion 6 em-'braces the ends of panels 3 and l, which panels are shorter bysubstantially one-third than are the panels 1 and 2. To make a firmunyielding connection between the panels and the frame E, I haveconveniently formed the frame of U-shaped metal, inserting the ends ofthe members in the space between the portions of the frame and thereclamping or securing the panel portions by screws or rivets, as at 6 Bythis particular construction a supporting member or frame for the panelis provided, which retains the respective panels in their properpositions relative to each other and adds the requisite rigidity to thepanel structure. On the end of the panel 3 or projecting from theunbroken edge of the panel is a tongue F, entering into the slot of thestandard B which latter thereby acts as a guide for the swingingmovement of the beam. Fixedly secured to the frame E is theadjusting-poise G and the scale-pan poise 8, the latter being arrangedbetween the rod D and the pillar O. The horizontal portion of the frameE is provided with knife-edges K K, connecting the panel with the pillarO and the link D.

On the faces of the various panels 1, 2, 3, and 4 are placed suitableindicating marks or figures, the special arrangement of which may not behere illustrated or described, as any well-known and acceptedarrangement of figures can be employed. Mounted on the.

respective panels are the computing-poises 5, 6, 7, and 8, varying inweight from the top to the bottom.

The computing-poises 5, 6, 7, and 8 are fashioned to fit the oppositesides of the panel to which they belong, being substantially U shaped.The connecting portion of the poise is projected through the slots d ofthe panel and are prevented from escaping from the slots. These poisesare of varying widthsthat is to say, the upper poise is of greater widththan the next, and so on. The poises are formed conveniently withpointing fingers L, arranged along their edges and directed,respectively, toward the various lines of figures on the panels. Theweight 5 may be of a Width greater than that of weight 6, and so on, soas to secure the proper variance in weight, or the weight-poises can bemade, respectively, of different thicknesses. Each poise is provided onits side with a knob or operating projection M. To prevent the upperpoise from escaping from the panel, the space between the panels 1 and 2is slightly enlarged, so that the lower end of the poise may projectbelow the panel, as shown in Fig. 2, and its sides connected both aboveand below thepanel, the poises being placed on the panels prior to thesecuring of the panel ends to the frame E. In each instance I have foundit convenient to form the inner face of the poise with recesses N,terminating a short distance from the ends of the poise. Thisconstruction while resulting in holding the poise in its proper positionon the beam or the intermediate panel for intermediate proportions andweights.

The construction above described relates wholly to the structural partof the invention and not to the arrangement of figures or charts, forthe reason that I do not wish to be limited to any particulararrangement of charting or figuring of the poises.

In practice I have found that the panels may be ofaluminium or otherlight metal and will be highly satisfactory, especially when connectedwith the scale mechanism through the instrumentality of a rigid framemember, as described.

The object of having the various poises of varying or graduated widthsis that the same may be employed in lieu of the ordinary detachableweights, the movement of the poise toward or from the fulcrum securingthe desired effectas, for instance, the poise 8 can readily be moved tothe extreme right, while the poise 7, if necessary, could be moved to apoint immediately above or any fraction of the distance, and so on, theedge of the panel being properly scaled to indicate the weight as thepoise is moved.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A beam for computing-scales comprising a series of panels united atone of their ends, a reinforcing rigid supporting edge at the oppositeends, a fulcrum on the reinforced edge and poise on the respectivepanels.

2. Abeam for computing-scales comprising a series of computing-panelsarranged one directly above the other, and united at their ends, theupperpanel being longer than the lower panel, and a reinforcingsupporting edge on the horizontal edge of the upper panel and verticaledge of the lower panel carrying a fulcrum extension;

3. Abeam for computing-scales comprising a series of computing-panels, aseries of computing-panels above saidother panels and extendinglongitudinally beyond the same, and an angular reinforcing-stopextending along the vertical edges of the panels and the horizontal edgeof the lowermost upper panel.

4. Asectional scale-beam comprising a plurality of separated computingpanels arranged one above the other, the uppermost panels extendinglongitudinally beyond the lower panels, means for regularly uniting thepanels and a reinforcing-strip on the lower edge of the downmost upperpanel having knife-edges thereon.

5. In computing scales the combination with a fulcrum member, of a beamconsisting of a plate having a series of slotsextending longitudinallythereof and a reinforcing supporting-strip secured to the edge of thebeam, and having a knife-edge resting on the fulcrum; substantially asdescribed.

6. A computing-beam consisting of a plate divided into a plurality ofsections each having a poise thereon, and a rigid supporting member ofsubstantially U shape in crosssection embracing and secured to the edgeof the beam; substantially as described.

7. A beam for computing-scales consisting of a plate having longitudinalslots extending from a point adjacent to its forward edge, dividing thesame into a series of separated panels, poises on the panels, and 'arigid securing-frame connecting the free ends of the sections andsupporting the beam; substan- 1o tially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATTHIAS F. KNOX.

Witnesses:

OHAs. O. GILBERT, C. E. HILLMAN.

